AN: To all my loyal readers, thank you for your patience and awesome reviews! You guys keep my creative juices flowing, even when writers' block pops up for an unpleasant stay. You. Guys. Rock!!!
Still no luck with recovering my old data. Big bummer. I'm still hoping it'll be recovered though.
Disclaimer:I do not own the Teen Titans…if I did, the show would still be going, Robin would've got with Star sooner and Beast Boy and Raven would have become a couple after Terra's demise.
"No!" the growl like shout came from Beast Boy as he bounded up from the position he'd been lying down in, the graphic novel he'd been reading crashing to the ground. His sudden outburst also caused a very peaceful Raven to be torn from Nevermore and flung back into the real world with a yelp as a stinging pain tore across her shin.
His eyes darted about, searching for possible enemies, his nostrils flared as they tried to make out an unfamiliar scents, his ears strained for foreign noises, and his hands…wait, why were they so large and heavy? In that moment, Beast Boy stopped evaluating everything around him and began to look down at his heavy hands, noticing that they'd morphed into the paws of…The Beast. Bloody claws of the Beast. No…no…no!
Raven held a hand over her bleeding shin, putting the right amount of pressure on the wound, but violet eyes fixated on the changeling as he looked down to his large paws. Emerald eyes went wide and a wave of panic washed over him so strongly that the wave felt like he'd drown her in it. She'd never felt him like this.
"No…no…I…it can't be…" Beast Boy began to mumbled aloud to himself, the presence of Raven forgotten momentarily as he tried his best to reach into the back of his mind and pull the dream he'd just had forward. He tried for what felt like an eternity, but it had long since been wiped clean.
Ravens felt it all, the turmoil raging inside her friend…panic and fear the strongest of the emotions he was emitting. "Beast Boy…." He didn't look to her for his Emerald eyes were still glued to his large paws. Just get him to calm down, Raven and you'll both be fine. "Beast Boy," she said again, this time louder, and dared to use her free hand, placing it upon his shoulder.
The sudden realization that someone was touching him caused Beast Boy to turn and snarl in such a way, a rabid Pitbull would've backed down and ran off with its tail between its legs. He raised his gaze to the intruder and instead of being met with eyes that held nothing but the threat of doom, Beast Boy was met with those of Raven.
He blinked, slowly, the world coming back into focus, and he felt his thundering heart begin to slow. He looked around. No brimstone. No flames. No enemies. His features softened and Beast Boy was finally able to look at her, concentrate once more.
"Raven, I'm…" He stopped as his nose picked up the metallic scent of blood and he looked down, seeing the damage he'd bestowed upon her. "Oh God, Raven…I…I didn't mean…I never would…Argh!" Beast Boy slammed a fist down onto the mattress before guilt began to wash over him. "I'd never harm you on purpose, I swear.
"I know, Beast Boy. I know," Raven said soothingly, watching her friend as he did something she'd never thought he'd do in her lifetime – pull himself into the stronghold of walls that'd been newly rebuilt in a matter of seconds. She frowned and, forgetting about her injured leg, scooted closer to him. "Beast Boy…"
He shook his head and quickly pulled his shoulder from her grasp. "No, Raven. Please. You have to stay away from me."
"What?" she asked. Something is very, very wrong. And I don't need my powers to tell me so. "Why? Beast Boy, talk to me. Please." Begging? She was actually begging for him to talk to her? Well, she knew they'd been getting along, but…well, I suppose Hell's about due for it's frosty time.
Once again, Beast Boy shook his head. "I've hurt you. Because of me, you're wounded."
"Hey, I'll be all right. I can heal myself." she scooted closer again and felt him tense. "Beast Boy, you were reacting to a nightmare."
"No…no, Rae…" He said, meeting her gaze. "I…everything inside me is telling me it's not a nightmare. I think…I think it'd be best if…you informed the others to make up a cot in the basement…" He let out a long breath. "Inside the cage."
Robin had commissioned Cyborg to construct an indestructible cage in the basement of Titans Tower after Beast Boy's first rampage when he'd become "The Beast". Star had tested it, using her alien strength to make sure that the bars couldn't be broken, even with Beast Boy's strength amped up. It'd past all the tests.
Raven's eyes widened. He hated the cage more than watching Cyborg shovel down a few platefuls of meat products. Again she moved closer to him. "No. I won't do that, Beast Boy."
"It's for your own safety…my safety…the team's…Jump City's safety." He held her gaze. "I'm not joking around, Raven."
"Beast Boy…" Raven suddenly found herself placing her hand on his cheek, her thumb caressing back and forth gently. "You're not an animal…not technically…remember? Here, feel…" She took his one hand and placed it upon the healing wound. "See? I'll be just fine."
"Raven…"
"Beast Boy, I'm not going to have you locked up. I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself."
He sighed deeply, his eyes downcast. "No matter how hard I try, I can't remember the dream. But inside me, I have little red warning alarms sounding. It's not paranoia. Something's happening to me. I mean, I morphed into…it…even though Cy gave me an antidote."
She sighed. "I'll look after you, I promise."
"Raven…"
"Garfield…"
The sound of his real name got his attention and he looked to her once more. "You trust me, right?" At his nod, she continued. "So if I thought you were a true risk factor to all of us, I'd do what you want. But I'm not going to. Not now."
"But you will if you feel I am a risk, right?"
She watched him for a long moment before giving a single nod. "Yes."
"Well, uh, all right. I just….if this happens again, I want you to throw me in there and lock away the key…."
"You have my word, Garfield."
Beast Boy cracked a very small smile. "Thanks, Rae."
She smiled gently. "No problem, Gar."
Seeing that smile on her face, one of compassion and kindness, Beast Boy felt something grow inside him, a boldness he hadn't felt before. His own hand moved to lie upon hers that rested on his cheek, entwining their digits. He felt his heart beginning to pound once again, but in a good way, and heat spread through his cheeks.
Raven couldn't help but watch him, but to her surprise she didn't tense or even want to move away from him. After all, she had been in the midst of a rather important talk with Love when Beast Boy had pulled her from Nevermore. She bit her bottom lip – a nervous habit of hers – and felt a blush rise to her cheeks. Raven wanted to say something, but no words would form.
Beast Boy leaned in and pressed his lips to hers a bit tentatively at first, expecting Raven to force him back with her powers, but when no such thing happened, Beast Boy's boldness grew and the kiss deepened. A slight moan escaped Raven as the kiss grew more passionate and heated, her arms wrapping around his neck, holding him there to her.
Beast Boy wrapped his own arms about her and he never wanted the moment to end. But alas, it did when someone knocked on his door. Inwardly groaning, Beast Boy reluctantly broke the kiss, only to find himself staring into her lovely violet eyes.
"Raven…"
"Beast Boy…"
The knock got louder.
"Yo! B.B.! Raven! You guys ok?" came Cyborg's voice.
Raven cleared her throat and turned her attention to the door. "We're fine." Her gaze slipped to Beast Boy's and a smile formed on her lips once more. "We're just fine."
"All right. I just wanted to check on both of you before I turned in for the night."
"Night Cy!" Beast Boy called.
"Night you two! Play nice now," Cyborg said.
Beast Boy waited until he could no longer hear his friend's footfalls before looking back to Raven. The two of them watched each other in silence for a long time before they found themselves melded back together. And then, Gar remembered a certain someone. He broke their passionate kiss and looked into her eyes.
"Raven, there's something you need to know about Stephen…"
Raven's brows furrowed. She'd actually forgotten about her…boyfriend. "Uh, ok…?"
"He's…Well, he's…" Beast Boy found the words getting stuck. "He's not…"
"Not what?" Raven asked. She really didn't want to talk about Stephen. After all, she finally understood what Love had been telling her – she was in love with Beast Boy.
"Beast Boy, stop stammering," she said and tried to hold back a laugh at the look on her friend's face. "We're over. Stephen and I, I mean."
"You mean…you mean you want to be with me?"
She smiled wider. "Yes. Yes, I do, Beast Boy."
A large grin formed and he pressed his lips back to hers hungrily.
But little did Beast Boy know that this was exactly what their enemies wanted...
Read and Review please! I hope you all liked the chapter! Also, I'd like to know if you think that all of this did in fact occur or was a ploy...?