Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or The Lion King (short mention).
Notes: Here's the next update that I promised. I hope you all enjoy it. I'll be posting more tomorrow. Merry early Christmas everyone!
Raven walked slowly passed Beast Boy's door, worriedly eyeing his name etched into the front. It wasn't like him to skip a meal, especially breakfast. He would do anything in his ability to force tofu on anybody who came within arms reach. However, it was probably because his tofu could pass for real breakfast food. Somebody could easily by tricked, specifically when his or her guard was low.
As soon as her worried thoughts rested, more came pouring in, but not about Beast Boy's health. She had been thinking about a present for the green Titan, but nothing had yet come to mind. She knew very well what Beast Boy loved, but didn't want to get him something that one of the others would most likely have already bought. And what better way to find out than to ask?
Raven easily found the other three seated in the living room where Cyborg and Robin battled it out on a fighting game. Stafire was watching with amazement, cheering on Robin, but ignoring the glare that Cyborg sent her way.
"Uh…go Cyborg," Raven spoke up.
"Yeah, that's right. I knew I had a fan," Cyborg grinned, "Wait. Raven?" All the action stopped, but not before Cyborg got another kick in contact with his opponent. They all turned to look at her. Raven looked like she wanted to hide…or blush…or maybe even both.
"If you don't mind me asking," she started hesitantly, "What did you get for Beast Boy?"
"You haven't gotten him anything yet," Cyborg asked, then suddenly looked suspicious, "Since when have you ever bought him a present, especially for Christmas?"
"There is a first time for everything, correct," Starfire interrupted. The boys slowly nodded, "I have bought friend Beast Boy a CD of the music group of The Lion King. It is one of his favorite films."
"I got him the newest edition of the Mutant Zombies from Outer Space," Cyborg said, "It's just one more game that I can beat him on."
"And I got him the entire first season of Clash of the Planets on DVD," Robin told her.
"As if Beast Boy didn't watch enough television," Raven muttered, "Well, at least now I'll know what not to get him."
"Friend Raven," Starfire called, following after her friend only when she had disappeared into the hallway, "What shall you buy for him? The day of Christmas is not very far away."
"I don't know Star," Raven replied, "Do you have any ideas?"
"Well, what makes you think about Beast Boy," Starfire questioned.
"Unfunny jokes," she answered, "Stupid movies and bad taste in music."
"Then work with that," Starfire told her with a bright smile on her face before flying away. Raven blinked in her confusion, pondering the meaning of what Starfire had just said…if it had any meaning at all.
When Beast Boy opened his eyes for the second time, they immediately traveled to the clock that had tumbled to the floor days ago. Upon seeing the time as three o'clock in the afternoon, his eyes opened wide and he jumped off the bunk.
"Yo BB, you up yet," Cyborg's voice startled him even further.
"Yeah, I'm up," Beast Boy told him.
"Look, I know you've been working for a while on this whole 'thing' for Raven, but would you mind taking a few hours off and just vegging in front of the TV?"
Looking down and noticing that his hand was still in the writing position and wouldn't budge no matter how hard he shook it, Beast Boy agreed to this idea. Besides, it looked like video games were out of the question. He would go down without a fight. It was time for him to take a break anyway. Maybe it would do him some good.
Raven tried her best to meditate, hoping that it would clear her mind enough for an idea to come to her. But it seemed like even her emotions could agree on a thing.
Happy was going on about some kind of fluffy stuffed animal, preferably something purple because it would remind him of her. Timid was opting that they not get Beast Boy anything, or at least some kind of DVD or CD that he would expect as a gift. It was better to go with the expected. Rage just wanted to sock him in the mouth and Brave was suggesting some kind of unexpected gift. The only ideas that Gross had were some kind of prank items and Intelligence only had books on her 'mind'.
"What's wrong with all of you," a different emotion had interrupted their bickering, "You heard what Starfire said. Why not go with it?"
"I didn't even understand what Starfire said," Happy protested with a laugh.
Reason sighed, not expecting any less of the pink replica. She walked towards the group, her silver cloak flowing with her motion, "It makes perfect sense. Beast Boy likes jokes, movies, and music. You just have to pick apart what she said. I'm just surprised that Intelligence didn't understand it. It's very simple."
"She's always in her own little world," Rage pointed out, "Always reading books and studying things. It's infuriating!"
Raven herself sighed as well. That's exactly what Intelligence was for, helping to remember things and get them to stay organized in her mind. Rage was just upset because she was rarely expressed anymore, unless by some form of freak accident.
"I might have an idea," Raven announced suddenly after a moment of thought.
"We know," all the emotions spoke at once with a smile, except for Rage of course. Raven shook her head, ashamed at forgetting that they were part of her mind for that split second.
"Well, go get it," Brave commanded her. Raven looked at her emotion in shock for a split second, then disappeared from their world.
"Starfire," Raven called into the living room. The alien was immediately by her side, "I think I might have something." She only paused upon looking passed Starfire and seeing Beast Boy slouched on the couch, "Make sure he doesn't know I'm gone."
Despite Raven seeming unlike herself, Starfire nodded, glancing back at him. Her uncertain look turned into a grin as she rejoined the group. Raven left by the front door as discreetly as possible, only a quiet 'snick' announcing her departure. Beast Boy never noticed a thing.
As Raven walked into the bookstore for the second time in only two days, she felt a bit out of place. The people who worked here knew her well enough to know that she rarely came but once a year or so. Two consecutive days immediately sent off a warning signal in the minds of the employees. Raven automatically wished that she had taken the chance to change her clothes before leaving, but in her hurry, she had completely forgotten. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea.
No, she scolded herself, you have to do this. It's the only idea you have. You need to go with it.
Hesitantly, she approached the section she needed, the sign proclaiming 'Jokes' above it. But she wasn't looking for any ordinary joke book, but one she especially knew that Beast Boy would love. She searched through the titles, hoping that one would catch her eye.