Raven stomach squeezed uneasily as she bent over stiffly to slip a foot into her pants, Beast Boy watched the muscles in her back move weakly under her marred skin. He felt the need to reach out and touch her, just to make sure that she was really there, just within his tentative reach; he wanted to stretch his hand out and stroke the painful looking marks from her soft, heated skin. He desired with every fiber of his being to see her well and unharmed once again, even if it meant going back to the way things used to be.

Raven's vision spotted when she leaned over, the rush of blood to her head was painful; she felt her arms go slack, her fingers grow deft and numb against the pants, and her balance wavered.

She thought she was fainting but the eerily alert feeling that crept through her aching head made her think that someone or something was trying to mess with her and nothing more. She wasn't lucky enough to lose consciousness.

Beast Boy moved closer quickly and reached out to hold her bare waist tenderly, her skin was clammy and chilled against his heated palms. His fingers anxiously twitched and his stomach knotted and rolled within him.

"Hey, Rae, are you feeling all right?" He murmured softly as he steadied her, but instead of righting her slightly lopsided position immediately she drooped heavily into his support.

"It's draining isn't it? To deny me. Soon enough you'll be too tired to fight, and that's when I'll take what I want…" Lust laughed freely, "Of course you could easily end this suffering, and it's not even like you wouldn't enjoy it immensely."

Raven's jaw clenched and she closed her eyes tightly, "I think I'm going to pass out."

"I wish you would too...the things Beast Boy and I could do with your pretty little body would put a sex god to shame." Lust hissed delicately in her head; a shiver shot up Raven's spine and a warmth spread through her core.

Beast Boy picked her up quickly and took her over to her bed, her sweatpants still only on one leg up to mid thigh, "What's wrong? What hurts? Tell me what to do." Please don't make me sit here like a helpless imbecile.

Raven shook her head warily, "My head…"

"Oh, poor baby, your head hurts? I'm so terribly sorry to cause you such an inconvenient pressure...but this is just a taste of the pressure I've had to deal with for years." Lust writhed within Raven's mind restlessly, Beast Boy was so close she could feel his pull, her desire to have him as her own was driving and unfailing.

Beast Boy pulled Raven to his chest gingerly, he tried not to be distracted by the perfect way she fit there, tried not to be distracted by the ways she curled into his warmth, "That thing's talking to you isn't it?" his fingers began to pull through her silky, long hair tenderly.

He had a very thin idea of what was ravaging her from the inside out. He thought of it like his primal side when it was flustered or frustrated. He'd been forced to talk to the monster inside of him before too and it wasn't pleasant. His Beast made his life a living hell in just the same way that whatever was attacking Raven did.

Raven nodded into his chest as a new but equally as torturous pain spread through her temples. It was awfully familiar to the way she felt when she was losing control of her powers, it was how she felt when she needed to meditate. And on top of the need for control she had other needs which lust didn't fail to draw out.

She felt incredibly weak and helpless as she curled into his embrace, but something about the blindingly powerful pain made such an act of affection necessary. That, of course, was Lust'sgoal all along.

Lust began to purposefully overwhelm her.

A knock at the door pulled Raven from dizziness and she moved disjointedly away from Beast Boy, she shook her head, "I'm fine, I'm fine, just hide."

Disoriented and agitated Beast Boy held in his words of anger and focused on the necessary, "Your pants!" Beast Boy reminded her hastily as she stood up. She leaned down to put them on the other leg, and that brought her face close to Beast Boy's lap. He reached down and took a gentle hold of her chin, forcing her to look up at him, "Please don't let him bully you."

Raven scoffed, a small laugh left her lips, "Since when have I ever let Robin bully me?"

Beast Boy shook his head, "Just saying…"

"Yeah, just, whatever you do, do not come out." Raven's face softened as she looked at his. Beast Boy's eyes were concerned and gentle, she could feel how anxious he was.

"So what if I'm in here...we're both adults, and he's not our babysitter." Beast Boy protested but was stopped when Raven placed a gentle hand over his mouth.

Then, in a surprisingly uncharacteristic display of affection Raven leaned down and pressed a very chaste, very friendly, kiss against his cheek. She was at a loss for words but suddenly felt the need to apologize for everything that had happened and everything that was going to happen in the future.

Her emotions were a disjointed mess, she felt as if she were spinning out of control. Her warring mind could barely serve any purpose.

Robin's knocking against her door intensified and Raven turned from Beast Boy in irritation, grabbing a zip up jacket along the way.

She slid the door open only a fraction of an inch, her voice was full of venom and irritation, "What?"

Robin's eyes widened, his fist was still poised up to bang against the door. It took a few moments for him to formulate his question in the correct manner, "Where...are you doing ok?" How many times had she heard those exact words come from Beast Boy's mouth?

"Yes, I'm fine, I'm not feeling well so I stayed in bed for once in my life. I'm sorry to inconvenience you and the team with my lack at attendance to training but if the alarm had really gone off I could have and would have gone." Raven tried not to let her irritation shine too brightly but it was clear, she would have sworn that she heard Beast Boy chuckle softly from somewhere in her room.

Robin nodded to himself, he'd heard something, faint, but it was there. His mind flashed back to when she'd hidden in her room with Malchior and ended up getting in trouble. He didn't doubt her, but he sure as hell doubted her magic sometimes.

Another vital question popped into his mind suddenly and slipped from his lips, "Do you know where Beast Boy is?"

Raven raised a dainty eyebrow. She knew how to play with game with Robin.

Robin nodded to himself, "Of course you don't know...you two don't even like each other...well, ok, get better." He didn't turn away from her, he watched her face closely, starred into her eyes with so much intensity that she feared he would see right through her carefully placed mask of calm and collectiveness.

"Robin?" she finally murmured, trying to keep her voice controlled, raising her eyebrow again. That look made her nervous, she should have known he'd see right through her, he was observant like that, suspicious of everything and everyone.

He continued to stare, his eyes widened and he reached up to push against her door, catching Raven off guard and causing her to back away.

"Raven what happened to your face!" She'd known he would notice, she hadn't been far enough into the shadows and his eyesight was too good. This had all gone downhill so quickly that her tired mind and exhausted resolve were weakening substantially.

A nervous blush spread across Raven's entire body, she tried to swallow but it wasn't working, "Robin, I-I've-I'm…" She couldn't even think of a plausible lie. She was even more disgusted because of her childishness, as if she owed him an explanation in the first place.

He reached out roughly and gripped her chin like a father would grip his child's right before he scolded her, "Look at you, all banged up and sick looking, did this happen at the fight?" he thought for a split second and then shook his head. No, she hadn't been hurt this badly, he would have noticed her destroyed face, "You would have healed already...are you having problems with your powers…" and then he paused and took a deep breath, his chest expanded. He wanted to stop himself from overreacting, but it was almost inevitable.

"Robin, honestly, I just had a nightmare and fell out of bed, well, flipped myself off is more like...you know that sometimes my powers give me a rough night's sleep...I haven't been able to meditate lately and the last fight left me restless." Her voice was practical and calm, she knew she could convince him that everything was under control. But what really made her angry was that he automatically started blaming her powers...even though that was the problem didn't mean that he had a right to doubt her either.

He had a unique understanding of her powers, she wondered if in some world he might have the ability to understand what was going on, what she was going through; maybe even more so then Beast Boy. She bit her lip, BeastBoy, where had he gone? She wasn't in pain so she knew he wasn't far from her reach.

A pang of irritation struck her like a slap across the jaw. What level had she sunk to? A level where she needed someone to be nearly within an arms length from her at all times or she would crumble into nothing. HowpatheticamI?

"Very." Lust giggled seductively in her head. "It may take time to crack you, but trust me my dear, I'm willing to wait for such a lovely reward," lust was giddy with anticipation, she loved to sit back and watch as Raven splintered and cracked in front of all her friends.

"It smells...not like you in here." Robin murmured after a moment of hesitation, he looked back to Raven, his expression guarded, "It smells like...Beast Boy."

Raven reacted poorly, she knew the moment her facial expression changed that she'd made a mistake. A look of guilt and embarrassment passed over her features and there wasn't a hope in the world that Robin would miss it.

"Raven...is Beast Boy in here right now?" Robin's voice was disgusted and angry with her, his eyes were now hostile, he loomed over her.

Raven shook her head deliberately, quickly, her back was ramrod straight and her expression was carefully and deceptively complacent; she rarely saw Robin this angry, and he'd certainly never been this angry with her before.

They'd always been similarly matched in the size category in the old days, but over the lengthy years Robin had grown and while not as tall as Beast Boy he still had at least a head and a half if not more on her approximately five foot stature. Her slim build also had no chance of ever rivaling him.

Robin reached out angrily and wrapped a hand around Raven's upper arm, he yanked her closer, "Raven, if something is going on between you two then I want to know right now."

Raven felt her brow furrow, what right did he have? None. He was being a completely abrasive asshole; Raven wants to squash his hopes for a power trip very quickly, "Even if there was it wouldn't be any of your business, let go of me."

"Raven, tell me right now." He growled angrily and his grip tightened, "I can't believe you would go and start up a...romantic relationship with a team member!"

Raven tried to pull from his grip but he only held her tighter, "You of all people know I'm not capable of a romantic relationship, not to mention you're sleeping with Starfire! What?" she spat in his face, "Do the rules not apply to you, do they only apply to me?"

Robin shook his head and dug his fingers into her flesh with a vengeance, he was trying to pull her closer while she leaned away, he was practically lifting her off the ground. He began to vibrate with fury, she felt it roll off him in malicious ripples.

"If it's not a romantic relationship then that must be simply sexual, I can't believe you're whoring around to just anyone these days...I'll have to keep that in mind next time we meet a villain, who knows, you might be able to get us a win by spreading your legs." The bite in his tone was painful.

"You're hurting me." Raven hissed through clenched teeth, she felt her eyes begin to turn black but her powers wouldn't come, she'd never felt so helpless. It horrified her that he was being so rough and angry, she'd never expected Robin to act like this.

Robin was consumed with jealousy, he couldn't imagine Raven with Beast Boy. He didn't want her for himself, he'd always loved her strictly as a friend...a very close one at that...but just because he didn't want her in that way didn't mean he wanted to share in the slightest. In fact, in his head, it was easier to see her screwing around with a stranger then Beast Boy.

"Robin I think it's time you left." Beast Boy growled, suddenly mere inches behind Raven's fragile form.

Raven jerked helplessly in Robin's powerful grip, her pulse quickened significantly as she felt Beast Boy's heaving chest brush against her back.

She wanted to rip both of them limb from limb, she wanted the satisfaction of hearing them scream. She had to calm herself...anger was pushing her limits, rage waited pertinently in the wings to step forward when needed.

"Raven, you're a fucking liar!" Robin yanked her by the arm closer, but Beast Boy's own hand landed against Robin's wrist.

It was all out of control...her whole life felt as if there wasn't a grain of sanity. Suddenly she was involved with Beast Boy when she didn't want to be, her body and mind were betraying her on a daily basis, and Robin was now completely livid for absolutely no reason in the slightest.

"Enough." Beast Boy's deep voice became less human, more vicious, "And you have five seconds to get the fuck out."

"Beast Boy, I'm not a child." Raven growled in her own defense, she didn't need him to come to her rescue every time he was under a little distress, she reached up with her free hand and slapped Robin across the face as hard as she could, but he still didn't let her go.

Beast Boy stayed planted behind her, her reached around and forcefully removed Robin's hand from her arm and shoved him back, returning an arm to wrap around her shoulders, his forearm pressed against her collarbone. Raven leaned against him lightly, her mind reeling with embarrassment and anger at the entire situation.

She was appalled that Robin had dared to treat her like this at all. She was embarrassed that Robin had been right about Beast Boy being in her room.

Robin righted himself quickly and came back at her. When he was close enough she reached out to press an angry hand against his chest.

A lancing jolt rocketed from his body to her own, the aftertaste was so familiar that she nearly choked.

Raven suddenly felt overcome and overwhelmed; she distinctly recognized the presence of timid, purity, and bravery. Bravery was unhappy with the entire situation, purity wrung her hands silently with timid by her side; purity's brow creased with concern.

"Raven...we will talk again, I guarantee it; but until your hormones die down, I can't even deal with you." his glare was penetrating, he stepped backwards towards the door. His eyes settled up on Beast Boy's, "You two are treading on unstable ground, be careful how you play this out. I don't want turbulence in the team."

Raven glared and tried to advance towards the door with him, but Beast Boy's arm became restraining and she couldn't move. She spoke anyway.

"I can assure you that you are the one treading on thin ground," Raven growled, her voice carefully monotone and stoic, her gaze was penetrating and as if Beast Boy could physically feel her heat he let her go and she advanced upon him. "You will never set your hands on me again and you will never treat me in such a manner from here on out. I am not your child or your subordinate and I will do whatever pleases me."

Robin looked at a loss for words but instead of retaliating he turned and left, his pride scampering in toe.

Raven held her breath, she didn't want to think and she didn't want to turn around and face her problems anymore.

Beast Boy was the first to move. He came around and reached down tentatively for the arm Robin had gripped so tightly, he pushed up the sleeve of her jacket and stroked the newly bruising flesh.

"Why is it happening so damn fast?" He mumbled, looking up into her unmoving face, her chest hadn't expanded since Robin had disappeared.

She shook her head and gasped in the much needed air before answering, "I'm so...durable...because my body is constantly healing. The human side is constantly in a process of deterioration because of my demon side, without my more instinctual powers my body is more or less eating itself alive. The bruises are just weak spots where the poison inside of me is growing stronger...surfacing quickly."

Beast Boy flinched, she sounded so defeated

But her face changed to slightly uplifted and she glanced briefly at his face, "Too bad we can't use your spit for this problem too."

Beast Boy raised an eyebrow at her. She amused him beyond all belief, everything about her made him want to immerse himself in her.

"I think you're delirious." Beast Boy grinned back at her, "Maybe you should lie down for a little while...meditation might do you a little good."

Beast Boy moved to lounge on the left side of her bed while she moved to meditate on the right. Her body slowly rose into the air and Beast Boy watched her carefully, waiting for something bad to happen...waiting for another bump in the road.

He laid there for what seemed like hours, he couldn't take his eyes off her for fear that she was spontaneously disappear.

His heart still raced in his chest, Robin had made him too angry for words; Beast Boy had felt something rising inside of him, felt the power and anger and instinct that swam around his system bubble to the surface with alarming speed. He wondered how Robin could speak to her like that, how he could abuse her with his words and with his hands; their fearless leader suddenly seemed like an unreliable jackass.

Beast Boy was blind to the fact that a low haze spread around Raven and the temperature in the room elevated substantially. He was only pulled from his reverie when Raven's body fell limply to the bed...a different, darker Raven stood in the far corner of Raven's room, watching Beast Boy as he rushed to Raven's side and tried to support her head and neck.

The figure watched Beast Boy stroke her body nervously and beg her to wake up, the figure's own body heated with desire. Fueled by the chaste way Beast Boy touched Raven, fueled by the thought of Raven being trapped in a dark and endless world for the rest of eternity.

Elsewhere in the tower Robin was pacing anxiously.

What have I done? He felt sick to his core, as he replayed the events in his head he realized what he'd done. He was supposed to be Raven's leader and protecter; he'd traveled into the bowels of hell to retrieve her, he'd cared for her in her childhood state from danger and watched her transform into the beautiful young woman she now was.

The thought of anyone touching her was unbearable. He saw Beast Boy in his head, rutting against his fragile little team member and it made him sick. He would rather see Raven alone and miserable for the rest of her existence then in the arms of some boy.

But he hadn't meant to hurt her, he hadn't meant to lose control. It held felt as if someone was egging him on, pushing him further into the hole he had so skillfully dug himself.

Back in Raven's room the dark figure advanced upon Beast Boy slowly. Her gate was smooth and silent, her eyes trained on his back.

She ran her fingertips from the base of his spine up to his neck very slowly.

Beast Boy sat frozen, waiting for death or pain or some odd mix of the two.

Finally he turned, his arms still firmly wrapped around Raven, his gut wrenched uneasily when his eyes settled on her face and her lips settled firmly on his.

Author's Note:

Still some crazy formatting on this chapter, I haven't a clue why either :P Sorry this took so long. I'm writing the next chapter (or at least starting and getting it very close to finished today) so maybe your see one later tonight.

DarkFire: Don't you worry, the Beast will live in this next chapter.

Child: You're awesome.

Wolvmbm: I really didn't want to make Robin the bad guy in this one, but it kinda worked out the opposite of what I wanted, lol.

BlackRose: I LOVE the "If you lick me I'll lick you..." MY FAV.

DarkLittleWings: lol, he is such a sweetie. I wish he were real :P

-Kay