Chapter 2
A Rude Awakening
Authors Note:
DISCLAIMER: I do not in anyway own the Teen Titans. I do not own the song in italicized bold print that song is "Like a Bird" by Black Label Society" Zakk owns it, not me
Anyway thanks for all those who have read and reviewed! Now own to chapter 2!!!
It was six a.m, Saturday and Beastboy couldn't sleep. This was rather unusual for him because he ordinarily stayed up late so he could sleep late. "I haven't been up this early on a Saturday since I was a kid." Grumbled Beastboy silently to himself. But then a sinister voice from deep inside of him replied sharply: "But you still are a kid and with all of your immature tendencies it's no wonder nobody respects you!"
"Whoa! Where did that come from?" Beastboy stupidly wondered to himself because he knew that voice all too well. It was the screeching banshee that kept him up late at night that forced him to walk in the halls of all his insecurities and whispered in his ear all the bad thoughts he never wanted to hear. For you see Beastboy and Raven aren't that different, they've both had terrible childhoods, a lack of proper parental love, and have been betrayed by someone they loved. {Terra and Malchior} Plus they both hide away all of their secret pain and depression behind a mask of sanity. Granted in two different ways, but the same none the less. But suddenly the impact of the voice hit him like a train and Beastboy thought sadly,"That explains why Raven will never love me. I'm just a dumbass little boy that everybody around here has to take care of, like a fucking dog! That's it! I'm not their friend! I'm their goddamn pet! And nobody will ever know that happy-go-lucky Beastboy is all torn to shit on the inside, hiding all his pain and rejection behind an empty smile and a corny joke." All of this emotional baggage Beastboy has been carrying around since his days with the Doom Patrol and he had hoped that when he joined the Titans that it would all just go away. "Sometimes I can't help but think that no matter how hard I try, no matter what I do, all I'll ever receive from Raven is unrequited love. Besides, I'm convinced that she hates me." As Beastboy said this he immediately pushed aside all other bad thoughts and thought that it would be best to drown out all other negative emotions with the help of some music. So after scrolling through all his artists on his I-Pod the green changeling decided on "Like a Bird" by Black Label Society. As the song played, Beastboy couldn't help but cry silently too himself due to his current mental/emotional state and due to the beauty of the song:
I sit back and I close my eyes
Lookin back at all the lows and all the highs
Through the black and white and in between
All the miles ive walked
The wars ive fought
And all ive seen
It all seems like yesterday
Like a bird, time just flies
No sooner than you said hello
Its time, it's time, i's time to say goodbye
Consumed by worry, stress and fear,
Never leanring to live
Weighed down by wondering why we're here
Collected memories
All that's in the end
I guess a sense of peace wasn't meant for some my friend
It all seems like yesterday
Like a bird, time just flies
No sooner than you said hello
Its time, it's time, it's time to say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
It all seems like yesterday
Like a bird, time just flies
No sooner than you said hello
Its time, it's time, it's time to say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
When the song ended Beastboy dried his tears and decided that since he couldn't sleep, he might as well get something to eat! After listening to that song Beastboy was able to shove down all his shitty feelings and walk tall down the hallway to the main room/kitchen despite the fact that it's much too early for anyone to be there. When he got there he decided to make some tasty pancakes since all of his vegetarian breakfast foods had, "mysteriously disappeared". "Fuckin' Cyborg" Beastboy swore in a whisper. As he was preparing his morning meal the door "swooshed" open and in walked Raven at her usual time of 6:30 a.m. As Beastboy turned around, his heart leapt as he saw who it was and as cheerily as possible in his current mental/emotional state said: "Good morning Raven!" While giving her a big smile. But Raven immediately sensed that there was something deeply troubling the changeling and replied with "Good morning Beastboy, is everything okay? Which was loaded with concern that was matched in her eyes.
And why are you up so early? She questioned obviously concerned.
Couldn't sleep He replied uncharacteristically monotonous.
How are you feeling?
Feeling? Fine He lied
Beastboy, please don't lie to me. Raven began to worry "I've never felt such intense emotion off of him before, I hope to Azar he's okay…the dark empath thought to herself.
Now this almost broke Beastboy's heart as he saw the pain in her eyes due to his coldness.
Raven I'm sorry, it's just that, I…I'm not…uh…
Forget about me. You must be hungry I heard your stomach growling and there's plenty of pancakes here for the both of us. Please sit and I'll prepare your tea.
Okay, thank you very much. Raven said grateful at his offer and she could see it in his eyes that she was treading on a very fragile subject. So as not to offend the one she secretly loved, she did as he asked. Beastboy set the table with two plates, utensils, syrup and the plate of pancakes as the water came to a boil. Beastboy then asked Raven," Two teaspoons of sugar, right?" Yes, how'd you know? Raven questioned nicely. I've watched you do this like a zillion times, plus I notice that kind of stuff with you" Beastboy replied.
Awwwe!!! That's sooo sweet of him!! Raven thought to herself as they both dug into their pancakes. When they were finished Raven broke the silence by saying; "Beastboy thank you for all of this, I greatly appreciate it." No problem, you're worth it. The changeling replied with his trademark grin. This made Raven feel extra special and she blushed slightly and a small, cute smile crept across her face as she gazed into his emerald eyes. "I can't believe he's being so nice too me, god he is sooooo cute!!!!!" Raven thought silently to herself. Beastboy couldn't help but gaze affectionately back into her magnificent violet eyes. Inside Beastboy's heart was doing somersaults at the fact that he hade made Raven the ice queen of darkness smile!! "Holy shit!! She-She's smiling! At Me!! Goddamn she's gorgeous!! Maybe I do have a shot with her?" Beastboy hoped to himself. It was at this precise time that the door "swooshed" open and in stepped Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg. From the three's point of view all they could see was Beastboy and Raven sitting at the table, thankfully for the pair they couldn't see them gazing affectionately into each other's eyes. It was Robin who ended this uncomfortable silence by asking awkwardly, "Uhh…What's going on?
Yeeeahh BB, what is going on? Cyborg questioned suspiciously with a stupid grin on his face. Yes friends please tell us so that we may put an end to the silence that is most uncomfortable! Quipped Starfire over joyously. Raven blushed hard in great embarrassment but managed to whip her hood up in time for only Beastboy to notice. He then innocently replied with "Nothin' just eatin' breakfast with Rae"
Reeeallly? Is that all that's goin' on? Cyborg suspiciously questioned, again with that stupid grin plastered onto his face.
Well that and all of my vegetarian food has somehow vanished! Beastboy replied slightly annoyed.
O okaay… is there something that you're not telling us, Raven? Robin inquired still awkward as hell.
Yes friend Raven, please do not hide anything from us, unless you have in fact done the something. Starfire asked catching on to what Cyborg was doing.
All poor Raven could do was uncomfortably stammer out "I uhh… uhh…" In total embarrassment with a mortified look in her eyes. Beastboy quickly picked up on Raven's total fear and instant insecurities and jumped in with; "Hey! Leave Raven alone! Neither she nor I have done anything wrong here, all we're doing is having some breakfast, which the last time I checked, was legal! And what's with the sudden third degree here? Haven't you noticed how deeply uncomfortable Raven feels right now-or in any of these types of situations for that matter!! So why don't you just back off and leave Raven alone!" With that said Beastboy gave a smile and a wink to Raven and agitatedly shook his head at his other three friends and marched out of the room in the direction of his own. Utterly flabbergasted at Beastboy's sudden outburst, the three sheepishly apologized to Raven, who just nodded at them and left the room. "Geeeeeze!! Never thought the little grass stain would get that bent out of shape from not eating some crappy tofu! Cyborg exclaimed after a few silent moments. It was at this time that Robin said;
"Goddamnit Cyborg,!" In a comically exasperated tone while Starfire looked at both of them with much confusion.