Raven stared at the girl in the mirror. A tea-length dress drifted over her knees in a beautiful midnight blue swirl. Long sleeves covered her arms as usual and her Titans communicator was fastened to her waist. Her lavender locks were pinned into a neat bun, a few lavender strands escaping in an effortless elegance. A single garnet pendant swung over her chest and doubled as her communicator. Starfire had wrestled her into a bit of makeup, making the sorceress supernaturally gorgeous. Her large amethyst eyes looked sultry thanks to some black liner she'd smudged on. Her lips remained matte with a thin shade of burgundy spread over her lips.
Raven stared at the mirror. She felt ridiculous.
Beast Boy would be ecstatic. Speaking of the changeling, it was 7:00pm and Beast Boy would be there-
Tap tap tap.
A light knocking sounded at her door, right on time. With a flick of black magic, the door swished open, revealing her expected guest. Beast Boy was dressed in a grey suit with a white button down and a lavender tie that matched her eyes too well to be a coincidence. He smiled at her with genuine happiness and no sign of turmoil over their earlier encounters. He seemed to have pushed the morning's event from his mind and was only focused this evening. Raven allowed herself to be impressed.
Besides, the neat lavender tie around his neck was a nice touch.
"Evening," Raven acknowledged with a nod. He didn't say anything, instead producing a single rose from behind his back. Stepping into her room, Beast Boy kissed carefully her cheek. "Your tie… It's a lovely color…."
"It matches your eyes," he blushed earnestly, taking a small step back.
Violet eyes met emerald ones, unmoving and inquisitive. Beast Boy, oblivious to her expectant glance, allowed himself to observe Raven. Like everyday, she looked gorgeous in a different way than he'd seen her before. The neat hairdo and dark dress gave her a timeless, matured look. Small grey hands folded over her stomach and a graceful look played her features. Admittedly, she didn't seem as excited as he was but there was no surprise there.
Raven, you look beautiful. Raven remembered the words Robin whispered as he'd fastened the silver clasp on her pendant earlier. Now Beast Boy was looking at her in the same way that Robin had; doe eyed and thoughtful. She knew Robin was only trying to be a good friend but his unusual push for her to go on this date made her suspicious. Storing those memories back into their appropriate schemas, Raven brought her mind back to the present, and cleared her throat.
"You look like a dream," he took her hand and kissed the top with a dainty touch before slipping something into her palm.
Raven tried to fight the prickly heat that tainted her cheeks. Instead of replying, she looked down at the mysterious item he'd placed in her hold.
A single scarlet rose.
"Thank you, Beast-"
"Garfield, tonight." Emerald eyes looked deep into hers, "Please?"
She nodded, rolling the stem into the cellophane once more.
"Ready to go?"
ooooo
The soft rumble of the changeling's white "B-ped" died as they reached the top of the hill. Raven's grip loosened around Beast Boy's lean waist and she peered around. At the top of the hill was a miniature cliff that overlooked Jump City in all of its glory. Almost no one bothered to climb to the altitude they'd reached. The usual hum of the city's collective emotions that constantly buzzed was almost silent in the sorceress's mind. She could take down her mental barriers without worry for accidentally absorbing any new or unwanted emotions. Smiling to herself, she figured this must've been why Beast Boy had chosen this location. He was awfully thoughtful.
Beast Boy jiggled his keys from the ignition and dropped them in the deep pocket of his suite. A simple table with a white silken cloth over it seemed to float over the grass. Two white porcelain dishes glinted in the now prominent moonlight and two champagne flutes stood tall amidst the small Menorah.
Pulling out her chair, Beast Boy gestured for Raven to sit, then he took his seat.
"This is..." Raven folded her hands over her stomach. What did she want to say? Beautiful? Gorgeous? Those words seemed cliché and almost insulting to the effort he'd so clearly put into the night. She even felt a pang of guilt for denying him an evening out earlier but quickly brushed that from her mind.
"I'm impressed." She finished lamely.
But her answer seemed to satisfy the green man, as his fang protruded with glee. Then he turned his head as if expecting something.
Sure enough, Alfred Pennyworth appeared, dressed in his usual butler attire.
"Good evening," He aged smile still sparkled with a million years of youth. Pouring the champagne into two silvery flutes, he continued. "Raven, it's good to see you again." The man's fingers fell into a pattern of pouring and wiping so everything seemed clean and crisp. "Mr. Logan had requested a cheese pizza for tonight's main course; I trust you agree?"
Shooting a tiny smile at her date, Raven nodded. Cheese pizza was one of the only foods that each Titan could agree on; it was vegetarian enough but not quite as bland as the tofu concoctions Beast Boy was constantly creating. "Thank you, Alfred," She placed a gentle hand against his, and the butler bowed in response before exiting amidst the forest once more.
"Mr. Pennyworth himself, huh?" Raven's fingers traced the edge of her glass, feeling the tiny kisses of carbonation hit her fingers. Beast Boy nodded and wrapped his emerald fingers around his crystal flute.
"I only wanted the best for you, Rae."
The sorceress just blushed.
"I think we should toast, Rae," he waited for their eyes to meet before dangling the fizzy drink in the cool evening air playfully. Puppeting his motions, Raven awaited his proposal. "A toast... To Alfred, for ordering our pizza." He grinned as Raven rolled her eyes.
"Cheers," she answered anyway before tipped back her glass and letting the cool drink send prickles down her throat.
"So, how are you?"
Raven couldn't help but purse her lips softly. It was a simple question, but common, normal conversation was never something they had a chance to enjoy. Biting her bottom lip, she observed her date longingly. The contours of his high cheekbones were sharp under the moonlight and he batted his lashes playfully while waiting for her response. She allowed herself to embrace his positive aura and handsome anticipating look and with a calming sigh, Raven let the last of her mental shields fall. Tucking lavender strands back into her loose bun, Raven cocked her head and answered.
The evening continued in a light hearted manor. Beast Boy seemed to be himself. He was playful as ever as they recalled good times and bad. They talked about their teammates, their interests, their outlooks on life, and so much more. The changeling chattered away without any true gravity. He was having a good time but Raven knew he was withholding something. He seemed to think that the sorceress hadn't noticed how he'd placed barriers around his mind this evening. But Raven sensed Garfield's felt soft romantic undertones and a large hesitation that he'd buried in his mind. Raven watched him carefully, listening to his stories and keeping her outward appearance as relaxed as his. He wanted to tell her something and she thought she knew what it was. And the more she drank, the more she wanted to coax it out of him.
"This evening has been really lovely, Gar." Raven rubbed the neck of her glass between her thumb and index finger. Bringing the drink to her lips, Raven tried her best to starve her healing powers for a bit longer. She liked this feeling, the feeling of giddiness and pure joy she got from the champagne mixed with Garfield's positive aura. "I.. I want to thank you for bringing me out tonight." She blushed, finding herself fidgeting with her pendant like a schoolgirl. "And I'm sorry for earlier.." She whispered, staring at her half eaten crust.
Beast Boy smiled. "Don't worry about it, Rae." He reached across the table, drawing her hand from the necklace and keeping it in his. "I've been wanting to take you out for a while, you know." He watched her suppress a giggle and let himself smile a bit more. "Let's toast again."
He lifted his glass inches to hers.
"I want to toast the moon." It had been only a few minutes, but Raven could feel her body reorganizing into a sobered state. Blinking away the disappointed of her lost buzz, she refocused on Beast Boy's eyes, who hadn't left hers for the whole night.
"The moon?" Her question sounded more like an unimpressed statement.
"Yeah," Beast Boy bit his lip, eyes flicking shortly to the sky. "Without it.. Well, I couldn't see your beautiful face this evening."
Raven scrunched her nose at the compliment but accepted anyway. All of his toasts had been cheesy and cute but he seemed to be proud of his clever little tributes, so Raven brought the rim of her glass to his. After a small ting of their glasses, Raven smiled. "Cheers."
They sipped their glasses and sat in silence. Each observed the other in their own way. Beast Boy, bluntly admired his date, the girl he'd hopefully admit something to by the end of the night. And Raven, staring at her emptied glass and at his disoriented reflection against the silvery shine. She was just about to tell him how handsome he'd looked tonight, when a soft rustling caught her attention.
"What was that?" Raven's healing powers kicked to a full effect and her perfect posture craned to scan the area. Beast Boy slightly larger than the sorceress had returned to a normal state naturally quite sooner.
The tips of his ears twitched and he glared at the shadows of the forest. "Probably a forest animal," He reasoned. "We are in their home, after all."
"No..." Raven started to worry. Her intuition told her other works were at play here. And whoever or whatever it was gave her an eerie aura. She couldn't seem to distinguish its intentions which only put her on a higher edge. "Scent him." She murmured, expanding her mind.
Beast Boy sighed, lifting his nose to the air. He'd sent Alfred home a bit earlier and the air proved that. His sharp senses weren't picking up the presence of other creatures either but like Raven, Beast Boy knew he'd heard something. Something that had rustled the leaves and Raven's mind. Taking another long inhale, Beast Boy prayed to scent a mouse, bear, or an animal at least. But there wasn't another scent to be found, save that of nature's leaves and natural fertilizer.
"Nothing." He turned back to Raven but she was gone.
Panicked, Beast Boy stood from the table and blew out the candles. He knew Raven's scent well enough to find her and her mind would lead them together.
Raven, where are you?
A sinking feeling hit his stomach and the changeling swung his head side to side in panicked fury.
Suddenly, he was blinded by a cool blue LED.
"We have to get out of here," Raven sat on his moped, clicking the handlebars in irritation. Waves of fear and nervousness rolled from the tiny sorceress. Beast Boy squinted at the light but hopped onto the tiny scooter without argument. Instead of driving, Raven phased them away.
ooooo
Back at the tower…
"What was that?" Beast Boy paced the living room, still dressed from their date. Raven levitated in her graceful lotus position before him, overlooking the lake from their bay window. Soft rays of moonlight glistened against the dark waters, and the sorceress focused on the slow waves while she sorted her thoughts. As the moon pulled the waves to and from the Titans' island, Raven replayed the events of the evening in her mind.
She'd been having a truly wonderful time with Beast Boy. Laughing over a pleasant meal, it was good to truly talk to the changeling on such a personal level; she felt as if they'd never gotten a chance to catch up about the normalcy of life, well, their lives anyway. After three glasses of champagne and an oversized slice of cheese pizza, Raven recalled the creeping shadows. They'd appeared just as Beast Boy had begun to tell her about something... Something she'd been sensing had been heavy on his mind since she could remember meeting him. A small weight that she'd grown accustom to whenever he was around and after all this time she'd finally began to brush it off as a natural piece of his conscious. But now, right as the weight was to be lifted, something was holding him back. Plundering deeper into her thoughts, Raven examined her own conscious. Her mind had been at peace for years now; she'd mastered releasing her mental projections in a positive way and didn't ever feel the need to suppress her own emotions. Her own emotions…. Raven closed her eyes.
Suddenly, it all made sense.
"Rae," Beast Boy placed a hand on her shoulder, drawing her gaze. "I.. I know with everything that happened tonight, this might not be the time, but I really really gotta tell you something.. I think it's kind of important and I'd love if we could just ignore the weird things that happened out there tonight and let me tell you what's on my mind." He knew he was rambling but couldn't stop. His thoughts were charged with the adrenaline from the evening's events; his thoughts were gushing out of his mouth faster than his mind could filter.
"I…" Raven paused. Whatever he had to say must be important, he'd seemed to all but forgotten the creepy crawly forest creature. So she bit her tongue. With a calming exhale, Raven nodded. "Alright, Garfield."
Signaling her to give her his hand, the changeling grinned. "C'mon."
ooooo
"Keep 'em closed, Rae!" Beast Boy scolded, catching a glimpse of her violet iris. An muffled grumble escaped her lips but Raven obliged. He'd told her to stay levitated, and he'd taken her hand and dragged her around like a child would their balloon. "Almost there."
They hadn't been traveling for long. Only down the stairs, into the garage, and now in the driveway. Sensing from the earthy smells of the lilies Starfire had planted and the metallic scent of the lake, Raven guessed they were by the lake surrounding Titans Tower.
"You can open your eyes now," Garfield's voice had grown more serious than it'd been earlier. He stood on a particularly large protruding rock facing the water. Raven blinked away the nostalgia that crept up on her like a curious thought. This rock was his favorite; it was where she could find him when he was happy, upset, or just lost in thought.
Raven dropped her levitation and stepped up to join him on the slick gradient. Tottering a bit, she was forced to grab his elbow for balance. She mumbled an apology but his right hand covered hers, keeping her touch warm beneath his. He gazed once more at the dusky night sky. The moon was almost visible amidst the violet tones of midnight but it wasn't bright enough to complete Raven's ideal night sky. Bending down, Garfield found his strategically placed roses.
"Flowers?" Raven graciously accepted the black petals, this one equally as lovely as the last. He just nodded, giving the lapping waves one last gaze before turning to her.
A single black rose wrapped in clear cellophane rested stark against her pale palms. Curling her fingers around the thorn-less stem, she brought the folded petals to eye level. She twirled the stem between her index and thumb to examine the flower more closely. It was exquisite. The petals looked hand crafted and unique, with antiqued folds near where the petals met the stem. A soft scent of Moroccan oil and jasmine wafted from the silken petals to her nose, and Raven couldn't help but find the scent familiar. Taking another inhale, her brain continued to try and locate the origin of the beautiful smell.
"Roses…" He whispered. Raven silently counted nine flowers. The odd number left her wondering the reason, though she didn't dare be bold enough to ask. Shifting her eyes upward, the sorceress awaited his explanation. "For every year I've loved you, Rae."
Beast Boy dug his canine into the soft pink of his cheek. A metallic taste immediately flooded his senses but the changeling didn't flinch. He knew his answer had been bold, and he couldn't expect Raven to return such strong feelings right away. So he suppressed his emotional tidal waves and waited for an inevitable reply. Something sarcastic or maybe a skeptical raised brow, nothing romantic nor anything with gushing feeling. But when she finally spoke, there was no venom. No irritation with her seemingly sudden confession. Only a simple remark.
"You can't have loved me for nine years, flattering as it would be." She spoke smoothly, gravelly voice never faltering nor showing any signs of ridicule. She didn't believe that it was possible though she appreciated the romantic words. But nine years of infatuation? That would mean he'd fallen in love the day they'd met and in reality, that was impossible.
Beast Boy nodded. He'd thought this out and picked better wording, preparing for her technical reply. "Right, I know…" He started slowly, choosing his words carefully and accurately. "But I… I've fallen in love with you for nine years." He frowned. "Does that make sense? The moment I laid eyes on you, I found you breathtakingly beautiful. A bit sarcastic and nowhere near as sweet as I usually like 'em," he admitted with a chuckle. "But beautiful nevertheless. And then, once I got to know you, your heart, I saw how much of a gentle soul you are. And I admire that every day, and that's just one of the reasons I fell for you." He blushed.
"Like it or not, Rae, I fell for you... hard."
Raven's eyes subtly widened. She'd expected a minimum of thirty seconds of flustered mumbling before she'd ever expected a realistic, intelligent answer. Baffled, she stared into his light eyes, a subzero covering her face. She wanted to let him know how she felt about him too but she wasn't even sure herself. Recalling her memories of the changeling, Raven couldn't remember anything potent about him. Only his terrible puns and his knack for bothering her with his goofy personality. Now though, he'd shown her a whole new side. Of course, she'd seen him act passionately before, like when he tried to rescue Terra from Slade or his adoptive parents from The Brotherhood of Evil. All those times, she'd only watched him as a teammate. The sorceress had never imagined him acting with such passion directed her way. And now that he had... She wasn't quite sure how to reciprocate, much less reply.
"You don't have to say anything, Rae." His voice was gentle and much more patient than she'd remembered.
"You…." She frowned. She wouldn't be ready to speak to him reasonably about this until she had some time. He'd obviously come on this date prepared but the sorceress was knocked clean off her feet with his sudden admittance. If he'd loved her for nine years, he must've predicted how she would react. He'd certainly built up some patience and gained maturity. But the way he'd reacted earlier made her think that the fourteen year old inside hadn't grown a bit.
"You talked to Robin today." She began, delivering carefully computed facts. "He told you how I'd react to all this, or at least he gave a precise prediction. So, why did you get so angry with me earlier?"
The tips of his ears burned. This wasn't what he'd prepared for but he gripped his sliver of patience like his life depended on it. "… I don't know." He sighed. "I guess I was just being optimistic and stupid. I just got hurt, y'know? Like, you can prepare yourself for the big stuff in life all you want, but nothing's the same as being there, feeling it…. Nothing could've prepared me for your answer, either way."
"You're not stupid, Gar." Raven spoke softly, subconsciously tightening her grip around his arm. "You're sweet."
His gaze shifted to the cold ground, ears perking to her words.
"I'm sorry I hurt you," She murmured, stepping closer. The moon pulled the waves from the shore and pushed them back, splashing silvery water at her ankles. "And I hope you know that I love you, Gar." He raised his brows, and Raven sensed his mind buzzing. "I mean, I don't know about any of this romance but I really care about you." She continued, clutching the roses tighter to her chest. "Can we talk about this more once I've gotten a chance to think?"
Beast Boy smiled. Robin had been right; all he needed to do was be patient and understanding with Raven. After exhaling a tiny white puff into the chilly evening, emerald eyes met amethyst.
"Give it a week?"
"Alright, Rae."
a/n: Well this chapter had a lot of things going on but I hope it wasn't too hard to follow! I'm not sure where this next chapter will take us yet... Maybe we'll get Raven's response or figure out what that creepy creature was doing in the woods? Any ideas for how to continue are welcome! As always, thank you for your reviews! xoxo!
edit: this chapter is subject to replacement.
