The metallic scent of perspiration and worn leather mats laid heavy on the Titans' weight room.

Raven growled, ripping the white bandage with her razor sharp teeth and tying it around her right wrist. Usually Beast Boy would offer to wrap her dominant hand, smiling all the way, kissing her knuckles, and wishing her luck with training once he'd finished. Giving up, the sorceress let her mind finish the job as she glanced up at the analog clock. It was 2pm, only four hours after she'd tried to reason a date with Beast Boy. Bitterly, she replayed the part where he'd declined, shutting her down and out completely.

He'd been heavy on her mind ever since, and Raven felt her posture slouch as he entered.

Without even glancing her way, the changeling briskly found Cyborg. The boys chatted for a while, before preparing their bench press station and going to work. Raven sighed, figuring she'd better start doing the same.

Today was Friday, Raven's favorite day on the Titans' official workout schedule. Her legs were naturally quite strong, giving her a slight break from Robin's insane training. Lowering the squat rack to her shoulder level, Raven physically lifted a 45lb dumbbell onto one side while mentally lifting another on the other side. Bending to touch her toes, the sorceress stretched her hamstrings in quiet for a good ten seconds before Starfire's honey-sweet voice interjected.

"Good afternoon, Raven." The alien princess greeted, though the usual perk in her voice was less.

The sorceress grunted in response. Standing to her full height, she crouched beneath the silver bar and lifted her warm up weight. Bending so her rear was parallel with the ground and standing again, Raven repeated her repetition 15 times before setting the metal bar back in its place. Then, rising into a floating lotus position, Raven lifted the same weight with her mind, pressing it upwards and back down in the air. Closing her eyes, the steady pattern was soothing on her constantly calculating mind.

Exercising her mind was just as important as her physical body.

"Raven-"

Grumbling under her breath, Raven listened to Starfire as she continued her set.

"Raven, did something happen between you and Garfield?" Starfire insisted on calling each Titan by their civilian names in the Tower, claiming it was more personable.

Finishing her warm ups, Raven set the decorated metal bar lightly on the rack and let her levitation go. Turning to face her beautiful best friend, Raven replied.

"Why do you say that?" She crossed her arms, fidgeting with her long French braid over her left shoulder. The doe eyed princess frowned as she exchanged placed with Raven and began push pressing the sorceress' 135lb bar. Starfire's immense strength was exerted with grace as her shoulders lifted the bar above her head and back down to tap her chest repeatedly. By the third lift she still hadn't broken a sweat.

"Well," Starfire lifted the bar, exposed abdomen contracting with each effort. "He usually works out with us on Fridays and leaves Victor and Dick to the shoulder workouts." The warm princess's comments were innocent enough but Raven knew Starfire was far from naïve. Beneath those wide, peridot eyes the girl knew exactly why the sorceress's heartstrings were pulled so taught.

Raven rolled her eyes. Snapping the thick elastic of her tiny dry fit spandex, she contemplated telling Starfire about her little incident with Beast Boy this morning. But what exactly would she tell her? That the changeling had been incredibly sweet and considerate, working up enough courage to ask her out on an evening on the town, only to be shot down by the sorceress's subzero emotions and sharp tongue? If Raven gave Starfire the honest truth, she knew a lecture about how unhealthy it was to bottle feelings would follow. Frankly, Raven wasn't in the mood to be spoken to, so she bit her tongue.

Rolling her gum around her cheek, the sorceress settled for a shrug. Changing places with Starfire, Raven finished her sets and stalked to the locker room. Stripping off her royal blue tee, she stared at herself in the mirror, trying to understand why she'd been so quick to reject Beast Boy's offer. She reminded herself that she didn't actually have feelings for him. Maybe a night out with Beast Boy would be just like any other get together… Except, maybe dressier.

"Ugh," Raven whined, lightly punching a series of jabs at the cool glass and leaning forward until she bonked her head on the mirror. Stupid, stupid Raven! I should've just accepted earlier when he'd asked… would've made it a lot easier. She was in the middle of reprimanding her reflection when Robin walked in. Her team leader carefully observed his teammate, probably giving her a physical as well as waiting for her to say something. Catching his expectant look, Raven held up her hand.

"I'm going, I'm going."

Returning to the dank room, Raven did a quick survey and found Starfire had disappeared. Beast Boy laid on a bench with the metal bar set above his head and Cyborg standing above his head to spot. Raven noted the weight the boys had laid on the bar and sighed. She knew Cyborg wouldn't bug her about what she was about to do and the bubbly princess and preachy team leader were absent. It was now or never. Raven's tongue was already bruised from earlier but Raven bit it anyway. Lingering slowly towards the guys, Raven began with Cyborg.

"Hi Raven," was his friendly greeting. She blinked at Cyborg in response before motioning for them to switch places. She took to spotting the changeling, who grunted at the sight of her before lifting the bar off the rack. He began pumping the iron quickly, obviously hurried to finish this repetition. Raven allowed him to reach the ninth repetition before speaking.

"Beast Boy, I wanted to ask you-"

"Not in the mood." He growled, his grip tightening around the silver bar.

Raven huffed, placing her hands on her hips. His jade colored knuckles turned a pale clover color as his frustration begin to build. A rough rumble rolled at the back of his throat and he continued to glare upwards at the gray ceiling. She watched him lift the bar one more time before ripping it from his clutches and hovering it in the air over his head with her sturdy mental strength. Startled, the changeling scooted out from under the floating 225lbs and sat, steaming at the end of the bench seat. He was glaring at Raven and she could practically see the hot air fuming from the tips of his ears.

He was so animated that Raven had to choke back a snicker. He was the picture of fuming irritation but she couldn't help think his features, while clouded with intense emotion and glistening with effort, made him look absolutely handsome. Instead of voicing her thoughts, she let out a long, calming exhale and gently placed the weight on its appropriate rack. Hands still on her waist, Raven felt semi-indecent in her sassy stance with her toned abdomen revealing her breathing patterns. Even if she got nervous, she would have to steady her breathing otherwise the changeling would notice. She should've thrown her shirt back on before coming out into the open. Fidgeting with the end of her braid, Raven spoke.

"I wanted to ask you if you'd like to go out with me tonight…. We can do whatever you want and we'll have a grand time." Raven immediately bit her cheek, scolding herself for allowing the sarcasm to drip at the end of her sentence. It wasn't as if she'd intentionally meant to act so careless with her tone but her natural tongue had somehow slipped through. She felt Cyborg's eyes fall on hers with surprise, Beast Boy clearly hadn't discussed their earlier conversation with the large metal man. Expectantly, Raven glared at the changeling, practically dragging the response from him with her irises, which were slowly tainting crimson. She refused to stop pestering him until she got the answer she needed.

Recognizing he had an audience and her poisonous glare, Beast Boy responded in defeat. "Fine." And with that, he left. Again.

Smiling politely at Cyborg, Raven hurriedly followed him to the locker room.

He'd given her the answer she'd wanted but for some reason, she couldn't shake the nagging pressure on her mind.

"Beast Boy!" She called, bursting into the boy's section of the locker room without thinking. The changeling's white tank top was already off and he was using it to wipe his gleaming chest. A bashful warmth spread over the sorceress's cheeks, confirming her private approval of his chiseled appearance and rouged good looks. She'd seen the changeling shirtless plenty of times, whether when she was healing him or whether he was having a lazy morning. So why was this time any different? Raven dug her canine into the soft pink of her cheek, a swell of blood following. Swallowing the metallic taste, Raven stared at the tiles, which seemed to falter under her blury gaze. Oh Azar…Her mind muttered.

"What do you really want, Raven? You want me off your conscious? Fine. Y'know, don't worry about me. I wouldn't want to guilt you into a horrible night out." He snapped, venom of a rattlesnake lacing his words. His beautiful jewel toned eyes were darker and his chest rippled with frustration at the particular sorceress.

"No…." The unforeseen realization leaked from every corner of her mind. She didn't want to hurt him like this, she never did. He was truly torn about her earlier answer and tremendous, boiling waves of passion had been rolling off of him every time Raven approached. Raven knew that if she'd caused him this much turmoil with only a few words, he must truly care for her like he said. One night out with him wouldn't be terrible, in fact, in the back of her mind, Raven knew he'd treat her like a queen. Finally, Raven knew what to do.

"Gar," she began, using his nickname tentatively. "I-I was scared earlier… I didn't want to go because I've never had someone actually want to be with me, not like you do, anyway." She hinted at her awareness of his feelings and the changeling turned red, averting his gaze to the floor. Raven smiled, walking closer to the green man. Placing two, cool hands on his shoulders, she peered up into his gradually lightening eyes. "I thought about it… And I'd love to go out with you this evening, Garfield." She observed his softening features and added. "If you'll have me."

He struggled against it but his signature grin erupted over his features. The second she saw his sparkling canine, Raven felt herself exhale a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. It was as if the storm clouds had parted, revealing Beast Boy's simple jubilee to be brighter than the sun. "Sure, Rae." He enveloped her in a humid, happy hug. "S-sorry," he laughed, pulling away. The changeling took her small hands in his and began unwrapping her white support bandages though he simply released her wrists after he'd finished. Raven couldn't help but miss the gentle sensation of his lips brushing her sore knuckles. "I'm just glad you had a change of heart." He flicked her chin and winked.

"I'll see you at seven."


a/n: Okay so this was supposed to be the chapter where the two go on a date but it occurred to me that they hadn't technically agreed to go on said date... So this chapter was born. It really should've been part of the last chapter but... I promise, NEXT chapter they'll be going on their special night together. Also I know that this chapter is a bit shorter as well I updated a lot more quickly than was planned. Anyway, now I have a game plan - I hope to update this story every week to two weeks (the holidays may skew this tentative schedule a bit) but if I'm honest I'll probably update quicker when I'm feeling like it (this chapter is evidence of that!)

Also I headcanon that Beast Boy grows taller than Raven.. eventually. I'm really using more of their comic appearances at this point but still with Raven's certain cartoon features (such as her hair and eyes and grey skin).

And last but not least, I want to thank you all who have taken the time to read this fic up to this point and thank you all who have reviewed! All of your words mean so much to me, I truly love hearing the feedback and am glad to know about the pars that really stand out to you! Again, thanks for everything friends! Can't wait to see where the next chapter takes us. ^.^